Automobile signal



I. KEHSHAW.

AUTOMOBlLE SiGHAL.

APPucAnoN man senza, 1919.

Patented Jan. 3, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

3mm/tofs Joseph Kershaw J. KERSVHAW. AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.25 |919.

Ptented Jan. 3, 1922@ 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

5mm/Mez fase/Ui? Kershaw v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 3, 1922.

Application led September 25, 1919. Serial No. 326,250.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH KERSHAW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Joplin, in the county of Jasper and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile Signals, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in automobile signals, and more particularly to that type of signal used to warn the owner of a car, when the car is being put to unlicensed use. i

An important object of the invention is to provide such a device wherein the signal is operated by the vibration caused in starting the engine, A"or"'steppinggiipon the running board of the car to which it'isapplied/ A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the warning signal may be operated either intermittently or continuously as desired.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following discussion.

In the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout,

Figure 1 is a perspective of my device, the hinged cover being removed for the purpose of clarity.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view thereof.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view partly in section of the vibrator switch, and

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view showing the relation of the various circuits.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a casing as a whole.

Mounted in brackets 11 secured to the side walls 14 of the casing as at 13 is a rock-shaft 15. Mounted upon the rock-shaft 15 and secured thereto by set screw 17 or the like is an operating arm 16. The operating arm 16 is bifurcated, at its free end 18 to receive the lower end 19 of an operating plunger 20. The lower end 19 of the operating plunger is provided with a slot 21 adapted to receive a pin 22 carried by the free end 18 of the operating arm 16. The operating plunger 20 extends through the upper wall 23 of the casing 10 and is provided upon its upper end with an operating handle 24.

Mounted upon the lower wall 25 of the casing 10 is a knife switch 26 having a blade '27 so shaped that when one arm of the blade is in contact with one pole of the switch the other arm is released from contact with its pole as is well known. The blade element 27 is permanently connected with the wire 28, which is in turn connected with a battery B. One of the contacts of the switch is connected through medium of a wire 28 with one binding post of an electrical vibrator bell 29. The other terminal of the bell is connected with a vibrator switch element designated as a whole by the numeral 30 and this vibrator switch is in turn connected with the other pole of the battery B by a wire 31. The wire 31 is connected by a branch wire with some portion of the machine forming a ground G. The other terminal of the switch 26 is connected to form the ignition circuit of the engine.

The vibrator switch element 30 comprises a flexible member 30 normally disposed intermediate a pair of contacts 32 and 33. The lower end of the flexible element 3()a is seated in a socket 34 pivotally connected as at 35 to a bracket 36 secured upon the side wall 14 of the casing 10. The socket 34 is rigidly connected to or integrally formed with an arm 38 extending at right angles thereto. The arm 38 is provided upon its free end with a counter weight 39. This counter weight is balanced by a spring 40 secured to the weight as at 41 and adjustably secured as at 42 to a bracket 43 secured to the rear wall 44 of the casing 10.

It will be seen that vibration transmitted to the casing 10 will cause the weight 39 to oscillate thereby bringing `the member k3()a into alternate contact with the contacts 32 and 33 completing the circuit and ringing the bell. In some instances it may be desirable to have the bell ring continuously after having once made contact. For this purpose I have provided a lock 46 pivotally mounted upon a post 45 secured upon the rear wall 44 of the casing 10. By examining Figure 3 it will be seen that this lock normally abuts the end of the weight 39. If, however, the weight vibrates the arm 46 assumes the position shown by dotted lines holding the weight 39 in the lower position and holding the spring element 30a in permanent contact with the contact 32 completing the circuit and permanently ringing the bell until released by the owner of the machine? As the lock 46 is used only at intervals when the owner is some distance from the machine, I have provided means whereby the latch may be held in elevated position. In the present instance this means comprises a spring member 47, having an outstanding shoulder 48 adapted to receive the lock and hold the same in elevated position until it is released by pressing upon the spring 47, a thumb piece 49 is provided for this purpose.

W'hen in use by the operator it becomes desirable to lock the vibrator against the motion and for this purpose I have provided a locking arm 50 mounted upon the rock shaft 15 and secured thereto by means of set screw 51 or the like. The locking arm 50 is provided with a head 52 having formed therein an arcuate slot 53, and a pin 54 is formed upon the end of the counter weight 39, to co-act with the slot 53.

A switch operating arm 55 is mounted upon the rock shaft 15 and secured thereto by set screw 56 or the like. The free end of the switch operating arm 55 is connected by a link 57 with the blade 27 of the switch 26.

To further insure against ringing of the bell durino the authorized operation of the machine, Fhave provided a silencer arm 58 secured to the rock shaft 15 by means of a set screw 59. This arm is provided with a silencer plate GO'adapted to interpose intermediate the bell 61, and clapper 62 of the vibrator bell 29.

Mounted upon the base 25 of the casing 10 is a bracket 63 having means 64 thereon for connecting thereto a warning signal preventing the theft of an extra tire described in my co-pending application, Serial Number 252,393, filed September 3, 1918, now Patent No. 1,329,528, dated February 3, 1920. As shown in said patent, the apparatus comprises generally a tire encircling member (not shown) having a screw-threaded extension, and a sleeve having one end screw-threaded to engage the screw-threaded extension, the interior of the sleeve being insulated. A metallic tube is mounted to slide within the sleeve, the tube having one end screwethreaded to engage the threads of the sleeve, and being further provided with an insulating tube in which wires are mounted to slide, the wires being provided with resilient contacts which are bridged by the Vmember 64, thus closing the circuit.

The operation of my device is as follows:

In leaving the car the operator draws up the operating plunger 20 by means of a handle 24 thereof, thereby causingthe various parts of the mechanism to assume the position shown in Figure 1. If now, any vibration is imparted to the machine, the counter weight 39 is caused to oscillate ringing the bell 29. If the operator contemplates leaving the car for any considerable period, the locking plate 46 may be released, thereby causing continuous ringing of the bell in event of tampering with the machine. When the operator returns to the car he unlocks the casing and depresses the locking arm 50 and elevates locking plate 46 so that the parts assume the positions shown in Figure 2. It will be understood that the casing is provided with a cover having a suitable lock not shown. When the parts are in the position shown in Figure 2, the silencer plate is also interposed intermediate the bell andclapper. It will be noted that when the plunger is elevated the ignition circuit is broken and may not be closed without opening the casing and resetting the rock-shaft. Whenthe rock-shaft 50 is reset the ignition circuit is completed by plate 27 of the switch. While I have shown the slot allowing of shitting of the rock-shaft as being formed in the operating plunger it will be obvious that this slot might be formed in the operating lever.

As many changes are possible in the construction herein shown, I do not limit myself to the specific structure described, but may make such changes without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a vehicle signal, an electric vibrator bell, a circuit therefor, a vibrator switch in said'circuit adapted to open and close said circuit when the vehicle is vibrated, comprising a pair of contacts connected in said circuit, a flexible element forming a part of said circuit, supporting means whereby said flexible element may oscillate intermediate said contacts, an arm attached to said lexible element and extending at an angle thereto, a counterweight mounted upon said arm a spring supporting said counterweight and means for locking said vibrator switch in permanent contact actuated by the vibration of said switch comprising a plate pivotally mounted above said counterweight and normally contacting the end thereof, said plate being adapted to engage against said weight and hold the same in lowered position after said weight assumes said lowered position due to vibration of the vehicle, whereby said ilexible element is held in permanent contact with one of said contacts.

2. In a vehicle signal, an electric vibrator bell, a circuit therefor, a vibrator switch in said'circuit adapted to open and close said circuit when the vehicle is vibrated, comprising a pair of contacts connected in said circuit, a flexible element forming a part of said circuit, supporting means whereby said flexible element may oscillate intermediate said contacts, an arm attached to said flexible element and extending at an angle thereto, a counterweight mounted upon said arm, a spring supporting said counterweight, and means for locking said vibrator switch to prevent contact comprising a rock shaft, a locking lever secured to said rock shaft, a head upon said lever provided with an arcuate slot and a pin formed upon said counterweight 'adapted to be received by said arcuate slot, whereby said counterweight is held against vibration.

3. In a vehicle signal, an electric vibrator bell, a circuit therefor, a switch in said circuit, a vibrator switch also in said circuit adapted to open and close said circuit when the vehicle is vibrated, comprising a pair of contacts connected in said circuit, a flexible element, forming a part of said circuit, supporting means whereby said flexible element may oscillate intermediate said contacts, an arm attached to said flexible element and extending at an angle thereto, a counterweight mounted upon said arm, a spring supporting said counterweight, and means for locking said vibrator switch to prevent contact, comprising a rock shaft, a locking lever secured to said rock shaft, a head upon said lever provided with an arcuate slot, a pin formed upon said counterweight, said rock shaft when shifted, shifting the head of said locking lever to engage said pin, and means operated by the shifting of the rock shaft to open said switch.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH KERSHAIV. Witnesses NEVA L. GEARHART,

J. A. MCCONNELL. 

